The Nearshore Cafe
Hear from Nearshoring veterans about what it's like living and doing business in LATAM. Join our hosts and numerous guests from LATAM & the U.S. with interesting real life experiences. This podcast is full of great stories and useful advice on how to navigate the world's most untapped talent market along with travel tips.
Nearshoring Yourself; step by step to building an expat life in Mexico
In this episode of the Nearshore Cafe Podcast, Brian Samson sits down with Jen from Expatsi to explore what it really looks like to leave the U.S. and build a life abroad. From growing up in Alabama to relocating to MĂŠrida, Mexico, Jen shares how she and her husband ânearshored themselvesâ by leveraging remote work, lowering their cost of living, and building a business that now helps others move overseas.
They discuss expat life in Mexico, Ecuador, and Belize, compare residency and visa options, break down the realities of healthcare and infrastructure abroad, and explain why m...
Scaling high-performing teams in Costa Rica staffing legend Doug Firestone on growing to 225 LATAM
What does it take to grow an IT staffing firm to $28M in revenue while competing against giants like Tech Systems? For Doug Firestone, the answer was found in the jungles of Costa Rica.Â
In this episode, Doug shares his transition from a Pennsylvania-based founder to a nearshoring pioneer. We explore the logistical and cultural "must-haves" for setting up shop in Latin America, from choosing the right free trade zones to hiring talent directly from tech hubs like IBM and Amazon. Doug also provides a candid look at his "failures," explaining why a great solution needs an e...
Why Chile Wins & Brazil is Complex: A Founder's Guide to LATAM
How do you handle a land deal with a duffel bag of cash? Brendan Quirk, Founder of LACPA, joins Brian Samson to share the wild, "boots-on-the-ground" reality of doing business in Latin America for over two decades.
What started as a backpacking trip to Patagonia turned into a 20-year career as a financial leader and international consultant. From his early days as a CPA in Mendoza during the 2004 financial crisis to managing multi-country expansions for global firms, Brendan breaks down the logistical hurdles of nearshoring, capital controls, and scaling operations in...
AI agents arenât plug-and-play and thatâs where most companies get it wrong.
In this episode of the Nearshore Cafe Podcast, hosted by Brian Samson, we sit down with Oleg Baranov, Founder & CEO of FlameTree AI, to break down how AI agents actually work in real-world business environments.
Oleg shares why AI should be treated like a junior team memberânot a finished productâand how continuous training, iteration, and feedback are essential to unlocking real value.
They also explore how companies can combine AI with nearshore talent to build scalable, high-performing teams across Latin America.
In this episode, we cove...
Venezuela: The Most Exciting High-Risk Talent Market?
In this short clip from The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, Brian Samson discusses why Venezuela may become one of the most exciting high-risk, high-reward talent markets in Latin America.
He explains what the country looked like before the recent political shift, what Venezuelans are experiencing today, and why companies looking to hire globally should keep an eye on the countryâs evolving talent landscape.
Watch the full episode:
 https://youtu.be/TRlSVqnrzEs
đ§ Host | Brian Samson â Founder of đť Plugg Technologies
đ https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/
đď¸ Spon...
How A Founder Built A 24/7 Call Center In Latin America
In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, Brian Samson speaks with Joe Helleny, Founder & CEO of CourtMoney, about building a 24-hour nearshore call center in Central America.
Joe shares how his background in ATMs, online payments, and government software led him to outsource customer support â first in the U.S., then nearshore in Nicaragua. He discusses the challenges of English proficiency, professionalism, background checks, handling financial transactions, and knowing when founders need to step out of day-to-day support.
Topics include:
⢠When to outsource customer support
 ⢠U.S. vs. int...
Doing Business in MedellĂn, Colombia (Expat Founder Story)
In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson sits down with entrepreneur and expat founder Chad Smalley to explore what it really takes to build and scale businesses in Panama and Colombia.
Chad shares how his journey began in Panama in 2007, where he built and scaled a Spanish-language CRM serving nearly the entire real estate market. From there, the conversation moves into Colombia â comparing BogotĂĄ vs MedellĂn, discussing hiring, cultural loyalty, startup opportunities, and why Latin America can offer a strategic advantage for foun...
Latin America M&A Outlook 2026: Deal Trends, Risk Architecture, and Nearshoring Opportunities
In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson is joined by JP Trouillot, Deal Advisory Partner and Regional Advisory Leader for the Americas at KPMG, and Alan Riddell, Head of Deal Advisory for Brazil and South America at KPMG Brazil.
Together, they explore the evolving M&A landscape in Latin America and why investor confidence is rising heading into 2026. Drawing from KPMGâs global executive research and real-world deal experience, this conversation unpacks how sophisticated investors are approaching ri...
AI Automation Without the Hype. Real Nearshore Workflows That Scale
Welcome to The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, hosted by Brian Samson and sponsored by đť Plugg Technologies (plugg.tech), a nearshore talent partner connecting U.S. companies with English-speaking software engineers and digital talent across Latin America.
In this episode, Brian sits down with Marvin Martinez, CEO and Founder of Bandsaw AI, to break down how businesses are practically implementing AI today. They explore the difference between automation, AI tools, and AI agents, why most workflows donât need complex agents, and how founders can scale operations without adding headcount.
Marvin shares real-world use cases from social media...
Discover how nearshore hiring is evolving in 2026
In this final episode of 2025, Brian Samson sits down with Ruben Santana, President of Plugg Technologies, to break down how nearshore hiring evolved this yearâand what U.S. companies should expect in 2026.
They discuss why companies are moving away from traditional offshoring toward nearshore teams in Latin America, focusing on time zone alignment, project delivery speed, English fluency, and long-term retention. Ruben shares real examples of teams built in Mexico, Brazil, and across South America, plus which roles are seeing the strongest demand, including data engineers, data analysts, and Salesforce pr...
Nearshoring in 2025: Top 7 FAQs About Hiring LATAM Talent Answered by Brian Samson
 Thinking about nearshoring? Wondering how it compares to outsourcing, offshoring, or onshoring? In this value-packed episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson â CEO of Plugg Technologies â answers the 7 most frequently asked questions about nearshoring in 2025.
From cost savings of 40â70%, to real-time collaboration with Latin American developers, Brian explains how nearshoring can help U.S. companies scale tech teams quickly and affordably without sacrificing quality or culture fit.
What Youâll Learn in This Episode:
The difference between nearshoring, offshoring, outsourcing, and onsho...From Zero To Onboarded In 14 Days
How fast can companies build high-performing nearshore teams?
In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson, Founder of Plugg Technologies, explains how U.S. companies can go from zero to fully onboarded nearshore talent in as little as 14 days.
Brian breaks down why nearshoring in Latin America outperforms traditional offshoring, focusing on time zone alignment, communication, cultural fit, and long-term performance. He shares real-world hiring insights from countries like Argentina, Mexico, and Colombia, plus the operational details most teams underestimateâfr...
Building a Fintech Startup in the Dominican Republic | đ The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson sits down with Ricky Michel, founder of Ualett, to talk about building a fintech company from the Dominican Republicâand why the gig worker and rideshare driver economy is still underserved by traditional banks.
Ricky shares how Ualettwas founded in 2018, how the team designed a mobile-first, low-friction liquidity experience by spending time directly with drivers, and why trust and empathy are essential when building financial products for independent wo...
Plaid for LATAM, Prometeo, Uruguay fintech, real-time payments, open banking, scaling fintech in Latin America.
In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson sits down with Ximena âXimeâ Aleman, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Prometeo, one of Latin Americaâs leading fintech infrastructure companies. Xime shares her unlikely journey from journalism to fintech entrepreneurship, and how her storytelling background became a strategic advantage in building a company that now connects 1,000+ financial institutions across 11 countries.
Xime breaks down how Latin Americaâs financial ecosystem really worksâfrom real-time payment systems like PIX and SPEI, to open banking regulations in Brazil, Chile, and Colombia. She explains why financial...
Inside LATAMâs Fintech Boom: Investing, Wealthtech, and Nearshoring with AgustĂn Guerra
In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson sits down with AgustĂn Guerra, CEO & Co-Founder of Vangwe, to explore one of the fastest-growing sectors in the region: Latin Americaâs fintech and wealthtech ecosystem.
AgustĂn shares his global journey from Montevideo to China, Germany, Poland, London, and the Netherlands, and how living across continents shaped his perspective as a fintech founder. He discusses the early days of LATAM fintech, the rise of digital payments, and how countries like Urug...
The Nearshore Shift: How LATAM Became the Future of Global Staffing | The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
Global hiring is shifting â fast. In 2025, U.S. companies are moving away from India and Asia, turning instead to Latin America for tech talent, loyalty, and time-zone alignment.
In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson, Founder of Plugg Technologies, talks with Evan Greenberg, Director of Client Solutions at Plugg, about whatâs really driving this transformation.
They discuss the massive rise in nearshoring, how AI and data roles are reshaping recruiting, and why Mexico, Brazil, and Arge...
The Trump Administrationâs H1B Hike Is Pushing Mid-Level Roles Nearshore And Changing Global Outsourcing
Host Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, breaks down the Trump administrationâs proposed $100K H-1B visa fee and how itâs reshaping the global tech talent market. He explains why this massive policy shift could reduce opportunities for engineers in India and Chinaâand accelerate the nearshoring movement across Latin America.
Brian dives into the geopolitical motivations, trade tensions, and economic ripple effects driving this change, from BRICS alliances to U.S. labor shortages. He also highlights how Latin Americaâs talent pool, time zon...
How Leadership, Culture, and Nearshoring Fuel Business Growth in Latin America
Host Brian Samson talks with Denis Champagne, a Fractional CRO and Strength Coach, about how leadership, culture, and adaptability drive nearshore success across Latin America. Denis shares his journey from growing up bilingual in Canada to discovering the depth and resilience of Latin American culture through language, travel, and business.
Together, they explore how empathy, communication, and cultural intelligence shape stronger remote teams and meaningful professional relationships. Denis also breaks down the âconquered vs. colonizedâ mindset, revealing how history influences todayâs approach to collaboration, sales, and leadership across borders.
đ§ Tu...
đ $50M Series A Tech Startup Scales Fast with Nearshore Talent | Brian Samson | Plugg.tech
đď¸ The Nearshore Cafe Podcast | Hosted by Brian Samson
In this episode, Brian Samson â founder of Plugg Technologies and host of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast â shares a powerful success story from a booming Series A tech startup based in Atlanta. With over $50 million raised, this company had the resources to hire from anywhere in the world. But instead of battling the fierce 2022 Silicon Valley talent wars, they chose a smarter path: senior full-stack developers from Latin America.
đĄ Hear how Plugg.tech connected their VP of Engineering with top-tier developers from Brazil and A...
Can a Business Analyst in Mexico really support a U.S. tech team just as wellâor betterâthan someone in Silicon Valley? đ
In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson (founder of Plugg Technologies) dives deep with Fernando Soto, a senior Business Analyst working remotely from Guadalajara, Mexico. From humble roots in Tijuana to leading global tech projects, Fernando reveals the real story of life as a nearshore tech professional.
đ Laid off after 16 years at HP.
đ Reinvented his career through remote work.
đ Now shaping product success for U.S. companies from Mexico.
đŻ What Youâll Learn:
⢠The...
How a San Francisco Startup Cut Dev Costs 60% with LATAM Engineers | Nearshoring Success
What happens when a Series B startup in San Francisco realizes theyâre paying over $200K per year for a remote engineerâand getting no extra value from being in the Bay Area?
They go nearshore.
 And they win. Big.
In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson (Founder of Plugg Technologies) shares the true story of how one founder turned to LATAM developers to scale faster, cut costs, and build betterâwithout sacrificing time zone alignment, communication, or talent quality.
Hereâs what yo...
Building a $6M Remote Sales Operation in Colombia đ The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, chats with Amir Reiter, CEO of CloudTask, about how MedellĂn, Colombia has become a hidden gem for building high-performing global sales teams.
From building his first team in an Airbnb to scaling a $6M+ revenue operation with over 265 contractors, Amir shares how CloudTask evolved from a service agency into a full-blown B2B marketplace for GTM (go-to-market) talent and software.
They dive deep into:
Why MedellĂn...Build-Operate-Transfer Explained: The Secret Strategy for Scaling Tech Teams in LATAM
In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, sits down with Jared Andreassen, executive at Blue Coding, to break down the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) modelâan emerging strategy reshaping how mid-market and enterprise tech companies scale teams across Latin America.
From setting up entire operations in Mexico City and BogotĂĄ to navigating employee severance laws in LATAM, Jared shares tactical insights, real-world stories (including a wild rafting trip in the Dominican Republic), and a sharp perspective on the evolving nature of global tech hir...
How Nearshoring Boosts Tech M&A Valuations | The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, sits down with Ron Noden, SVP of Tech M&A at Quorum Group, to unpack the real value of nearshoring, how international staffing impacts valuations, and why 60% of tech M&A deals involve two or more countries.
From building massive teams in Costa Rica to closing high-growth tech deals across Latin America, Ron shares his journey from retail to running multimillion-dollar software exits. If you're a tech founder, operator...
đ Where Should You Outsource in 2025?
Not all regions are created equal when it comes to building high-performing remote teams.
In this new Nearshore Cafe Podcast short, I spoke with global BPO executive Stewart Wolfenson, who broke down how cultural and operational strengths vary across:
â Philippines â Service-first mindset. Perfect for support and customer care.
â Dominican Republic â Fast-paced, energetic, and ideal for outbound sales roles.
â Eastern Europe â Highly technical, adaptive, and excellent for problem-solving and dev-heavy work.
đ The takeaway?
Outsourcing isn...
Top 7 Nearshoring FAQs Answered: Costs, Benefits, and What to Expect in 2025
In this solo episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, tackles the 7 most frequently asked questions about Nearshoring. With over a decade of hands-on experience connecting U.S. companies with top-tier talent in Latin America, Brian offers a direct, insightful breakdown of what businesses need to know in 2025.
From understanding the real difference between Nearshoring and Outsourcing, to quantifying cost savings and uncovering overlooked cultural advantages, this episode is packed with valuable guidance for scaling remote teams the right way.
Ideal for founders...
How to Build High-Performing Nearshore Tech Teams with Latin American Developers
In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Seb Wichmann talks with Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, about scaling remote tech teams by hiring elite Latin American software engineers.
Brian shares authentic hiring strategies, from using video job descriptions to running pop-up coding challenges, helping U.S. companies attract and retain top-tier nearshore talent.
If youâre a founder, HR leader, or tech recruiter looking to build or grow your nearshore development te...
From Google Sheets to Scalable SaaS: How PayTrack Transformed Travel & Expense Management in LATAM
đď¸ Featuring Pedro GĂłes, CEO of PayTrack | The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
In this episode, host Brian Samson speaks with Pedro GĂłes, CEO of PayTrack, a Brazil-based fintech that evolved from startup hustle to enterprise-level executionâgrowing from 20 to nearly 400 employees, largely without outside investment.
Pedro reveals how PayTrack built an all-in-one travel and expense management platform for medium and enterprise companies, combining travel booking, expense tracking, and corporate cards into a single integrated SaaS solution. The company didnât just survive the...
Is Nearshoring the Smartest Way to Build a Remote Team in 2025? | Josh Allan Dykstra
đ With global talent more accessible than ever, many companies are asking:
 Is nearshoring the key to building scalable, high-performing remote teams in 2025?
In this episode of The Nearshore CafĂŠ Podcast, host Brian Samson sits down with Josh Allan Dykstra, CEO of Work Revolution, to explore the pros and pitfalls of nearshoringâbased on real-life experience hiring across Ecuador, Mexico, Venezuela, Israel, Brazil, and the U.S.
Josh shares what worked, what didnât, and what every founder, startup leader, and hiring manager should know before in...
Crossing Borders: A World Traveler's Guide to Latin American Talent
In this episode of The Nearshore CafĂŠ Podcast, host Brian Samson sits down with Evan Greenberg, Director of Client Solutions at Plug Technologies (PLUGG.tech), to explore what traveling to 47 countries taught him about global cultureâand how that experience shapes his approach to building remote tech teams in Latin America.
đ Whether you're passionate about world travel, hiring international talent, or scaling your engineering team with cost-effective solutions, this episode is packed with value.
đď¸ What youâll hear:
Unfiltered travel stories from Venezuela, Peru, Italy...Costa Rica's Silicon Valley: Building a Data & AI Company for US Life Sciences
In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson sits down with Arturo Garcia, CEO & Co-Founder of DNAMIC | Databricks Data Solutions, to discuss how Costa Rica has emerged as Latin Americaâs Silicon Valley for AI & Data Solutions.
Arturo shares his journey from medical school to building DNAMIC, a company that grew from a small startup to a million-dollar enterprise in just one year. Learn how the companyâs âWork from Happinessâ culture promotes productivity and empl...
Nearshoring in Argentina and Mexico: Managing Inflation and Talent Shortages
Are you considering nearshoring to Argentina or Mexico? This episode of The Nearshore Cafe dives into the key challenges and opportunities, including how to navigate inflation and find top tech talent in these dynamic markets. We discuss practical strategies for managing remote teams, cultural considerations, and tips for success. Jonathan Roitman shares his insights from years of experience working with nearshore teams in Latin America.
Learn how to:
* Understand the impact of inflation on nearshore operations and mitigate risks.
* Develop effective talent acquisition strategies to attract and retain top developers.
* Manage remote teams across d...
Building a Thriving Tech Hub in Guatemala â Digital Gekoâs Journey
Miguel Munoz from Digital Geko shares insights about Guatemala's growing position in the nearshore tech ecosystem and why it remains Central America's "best-kept secret" for software development partnerships. As the most populated country in Central America with economic stability and a strong talent pool, Guatemala offers compelling advantages for companies seeking quality development services at competitive rates.
⢠Guatemala has the largest population in Central America creating a substantial talent pool
⢠The country maintains economic stability with consistent exchange rates and banking systemsÂ
⢠Guatemalans have a "we have to do everything" mentality that creates flexibility and innovat...
Nearshore Hiring Cut Costs & Hire Smarter | Brian Samson on âWhat It Takesâ Podcast
We dive deep with Brian Sampson, founder of Plug Technologies, exploring how businesses can tap into top-tier Latin American talent to scale effectively while navigating today's changing hiring landscape.
⢠Brian relocated to Argentina to build a tech company from scratch, scaling to 80 employees
⢠Nearshore hiring (same time zone regions) offers 40-60% cost savings compared to US hiring
⢠Latin American talent brings unique advantages beyond cost savings - adaptability, direct feedback, and comfort with ambiguity
⢠Cultural differences between regions significantly impact work quality - Asia excels with precise instructions while Latin America thrives with ambiguity
⢠La...
Meleiâs Impact to Argentinaâs Talent Market
How did Matt Steinberg, a seasoned technical recruiter, find himself at the forefront of a nearshoring revolution in Latin America? Join us as he recounts his unexpected journey into recruiting, which began in Argentina in 2005 when the concept of nearshoring was just gaining traction. Matt shares invaluable insights about the pivotal role communication skills played in his career and reveals his secret to achieving fluency in English through sheer determination and self-study.
Unravel the fascinating impact of Argentina's evolving political landscape on its economy with the rise of Melei, an economist-turned-politician who has shaken up the nation's...
Elevating Quality Over Cost in Tech Outsourcing
Step into the future of global talent strategy with Brian Samson on the Global Leadership Innovation & Tech Podcast. This episode unpacks the rise of nearshoringâa game-changing approach thatâs redefining efficiency, collaboration, and cost-effectiveness in international business with host Tosin Sho.
Brian breaks down the differences between nearshoring and traditional offshoring, revealing how companies can leverage regional talent pools without compromising quality. From the U.S. tapping into Latin American expertise to Australiaâs strong ties with the Philippines, he provides a fresh perspective on how geography can work for businesses, not against them.
Beyond...
Cultural Diversity in Tech: Lessons from Latin America
Discover the secrets of building powerful, global tech communities with Mariana Lemus, a community expert hailing from Latin America. Mariana shares her fascinating journey, transitioning from finance to marketing at MuleSoft, where she played a pivotal role in nurturing a vibrant community of developers. Her story is a testament to the importance of understanding diverse cultures and the dedication required to cultivate successful tech ecosystems. Mariana paints a vivid picture of the early days of MuleSoft in Argentina, offering valuable insights for anyone interested in nearshoring and community building.
Join us as we explore the world of...
Trumpâs Policies and AI: Shaping Latin Americaâs Economic Future
What if the political shifts from Trump's inauguration could reshape Latin Americaâs economic landscape?
Join me, Brian Samson, as I sit down with Luis Lozano, an expert on the region, to unravel these potential impacts. We dissect how Trump's policies might pressure Latin American countries, yet create opportunities for nations like Argentina. Mexico's unique position in the wake of tariffs and U.S. trade policies is analyzed, alongside the rise of nearshoring that could boost demand for diverse talents across the region.
Shifting gears, we spotlight the transformative wave of AI technology with a fo...
Global Engineering: Harnessing Talent Across Borders
What if accessing top-tier engineering talent from around the globe could transform your business? Join us as we unlock the secrets to building exceptional nearshore teams with Kevin Haggard, the VP of Engineering at Zenzions. Kevin takes us on a journey through his career, from early days at Deloitte and Weight Watchers to his current role at a cutting-edge startup focused on data conversion using machine learning. He provides an insider's perspective on how global collaboration has shaped his approach to technology, infrastructure, and software delivery.
In our conversation, Kevin shares rich stories from his experiences working...
Tullio Siragusa Shares Insights on Nearshore Innovation
How has Tullio Siragusa transformed nearshoring over the past 25 years?
Join us as Tullio, an industry pioneer, shares his journey from introducing nearshore services to the U.S. with SoftTech to navigating its evolution across Latin America. Discover how Mexico became a nearshore leader, Colombia's rise, and the unique contributions of talent from Monterrey and Guadalajara.
We also explore the role of AI in nearshoring, the growing interest in regions like Europe, and Tullio's insights on leveraging global talent. Drawing inspiration from Steve Jobs, Tullio highlights how empathy and design thinking shape business success. Plus...
